Gurcharan Das, Columnist, The Times of India; Contributor, The New York Times; Author, India Grows at Night

In conversation with Lata Krishnan, Chair, American India Foundation

How could a nation become the world’s second fastest growing economy despite a weak, flailing state? Its recent economic slowdown is a sign that India may have begun to experience the limits of growing at "night" - private growth outside the scope of government involvement. What India needs, Das says, is a strong liberal state. Such a state would have the authority to take quick, decisive action; it would have the rule of law to ensure those actions are legitimate; and finally, it would be accountable to the people. But achieving this will not be easy, says Das, because India has historically had a weak state and a strong society.